Norwegian Bliss Review
Rating by category
Additional details
I decided to go on a solo cruise for the first time. I wanted it to be more than 7 days and I liked the itinerary for the Bliss from Los Angeles to Miami. I started with an interior room and upgraded to an oceanview and received the promotional bonus for that ($50 off each excursion, 2 free speciality dining offers & 300 free wifi minutes).
Embarkation in LA was not bad. I arrived at the port at 8:30am. There were hundreds of seats. We received a card that we were in Boarding Group A. While we waited, the staff served water and snacks. Check in for our room key was fast.
However, the handicapped, the Latitudes members, the folks in the Haven, etc., were allowed to board before my group. I think I was on the ship by noon. I enjoyed my first lunch at the Taste restaurant and shared a table with other cruisers. Being that I was alone on the cruise, I was happy to meet many people.
Cabin Review
Mid-ship Oceanview with Large Picture Window
My oceanview cabin slept 5, so being alone, I had 2 tvs, 3 closets, more drawer space than needed, lots of mirrors, and a king bed. I was in heaven. The steward did a great job too with cleaning the bathroom and making the bed every day. I did not utilize the beverages in the refrigerator, but kept a carton of milk from the Garden Cafe in my fridge for nightly drinks. I used the clothesline to dry lingerie and bathing suits. I used up the body wash provided very quickly but did not use the shampoo/rinse provided since I'm picky about that.
Port Reviews
Cabo San Lucas
Boat tour & whale watching: fun boat, good music, good tour guide, drinks and snacks provided.
Puerto Vallarta
Dolphin Encounter: lots of fun. Only 4 people to each dolphin (at least in my group). Great free lunch, lots of variety and good food and deserts. Pics not allowed with your own phones. Photographer's pics too expensive. Not willing to negotiate on prices.
Acapulco
Boat tour to see the Cliff Divers and tour the high-end homes on the water and the area. Very relaxing, good tour guide. The cliff divers swam to our boat to take pics with passengers (for tips) and then dove off later to the shore. The weather was fantastic.
Cartagena (Colombia)
City walking tour - covered a lot of area, took lots of pics, saw lots of the "old" city structures, church, etc. Then took a boat tour, native dancers on the boat, interesting to hear about the area, took a quick tour of a place near the pier with lots of birds, flamingos, etc. It was pretty. Tour guide was excellent.
Ocho Rios
Puerto Seco Beach excursion. Beautiful, quiet, scenic. Great beach lounge chairs. Sea was great for swimming. Pool was gigantic and comfortable for swimming. Free lunch was ok, nothing great. Just jerk chicken, fried fish, salad and rice. Would have preferred not to leave the beach early to go shopping (which was near the pier, crowded, small and over priced).